Connector.



Patented Dec. 2.. |902. G. CRAVENS.

CONNECTOR.

wApplication lnd May 1` 1901 (No Model.)

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To all whom t may concern.-

UNITED STATESv PATENI OFFICE.y

GEORGE W. oRAvENs, OE SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, AslsIcNoR To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

',cONNEcTOR.

srncrrlcarioivforming pareof Letters .patent No. 714,869, dated :December 2, 190e.

Application led May 1 1901.

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CRAvENs', a citizen of the United States, residing at'Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain/new and useful Improvements in Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in 'i apparatus by which portable translating devices can be readily connected in circuit at predetermined places.

The invention consists in such an apparatus which comprises a member which is adapted to be secured in the position Where it is desired to operate the portable translating deviceand another member which is carried' members securely in their operative positions.

The invention is especially adapted for power-circuits where large currents are used, and hence may be usefully employed in con- 'nection with electric motors combined with portable machinery; but the structure of the device is such that it may be employed 'for other purposes, such as lighting-circuits Of the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longit'udinalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section, of one member, and'Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the otherfmemb'er.

, with perforations O, by which the member is y The member Sisithe shape ofa hollow cupshaped receptacle, which .is formed Awith a baseil, having projecting iianges F, provided i secured in the position vWhere it is desired to 4operate the translating device.

swarm. 58.263. (No man.)

shaped receptacle and is adapted to be received within the cup-shaped portion of the hollow socket S. Within the plug member P are secured the leads N of the branch circuit. Botli members P and S are composed of a suitablemoldable insulating material, such as porcelain, and it may be noted that their structure is such that they may be readily formed in a mold and with drawn therefrom. The socket S is provided with perforations A and' C in the walls and base, respectively, both of these perforations communieating with the interior 'of the cup-shaped portion. As shown in the drawings, the generator-leads M are carried through the perforation C into the interior of the receptacle, and this is done in any case where the'wires are led in between the walls of the room; but in cases Where the Wires extend along the Walls or in any other Way, as may be the case in mines or other similar locations, the generator-leads may be carried through the lateral perforationsA in the side walls of the cup-shaped receptacle. C

Metal terminal blocks T are secured to the base B of' the socket S by screws W, which pass from the outsideof the base. Their heads are located in exterior countersunk holes, which may be .filled up with an insulatinsr compound, if'desired, and these metal terminal blocks are constructed with cavities to receive the ends of the generator-leads M and are provided with binding-screws D,

which secure the ends of the leads in position.

to project freely within the interior ofthe .5o with a portion G of greater ontsidediameter cup-shaped socket S, so that no parts lie adl jacent tothe terminals and so that the latter, which are preferably of brass tubing split to give' a spring action, can be expanded, as described hereinafter. Formed integral with the socket vS is an insulating-barrierR, which is located between tle terminal blocks T to prevent the generator from being short-circuited.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the hollow insulating-plug P is provided with perforations A for the reception of the branch leads N. A projecting rim K is formed at the righthand end of the plug to form a cup-shapeddepression, in which depression are located screws W', which pass through the wall of the plug and engage in the bases T of plug-` terminals G, which' bases are adapted to receive the ends of the branch leads N and bindingscrews D', which hold the ends of these leads in place. In the case shown the plugs G are formedintegrallwith the bases'v T', which bases are the equivalents of the' i as 'termiual'blocks T of the socket S. By this construction the entire terminal and blockv can be turned out of a brass rod; but it isv obvious that the device might be made in two parts secured together, as shown with respect to the tube-terminals Hin Fig. 3. By

this mea-ns of securing the plug-terminals in position within the hollow plug it is obvious that they are supported therein soas to project freely without coming in contact with any portion of the plug P or other parts of the device. An insulating-barrier R is falso formed integral with the plug P, as is also an insulating-barrier Q. The barrier R and the barrier R' divide the plug and socket, respectively, into compartments, in each of which a single terminal is located.

The hollow terminals H of the socket S are split, as shown at J, into four segmental parts, sothat the resulting spring portions may be i expanded, and each terminal is provided with a portion intermediateits ends, as shown at H', which isz..of greater inner diameter than the rest of the terminal. The plug-terminals G of the insulating-plug P are formed with longitudinal incisions L, whereby the four resulting segmental portions can be sprung toward each other,and each terminal is formed than the rest of the terminal. When a translating device is moved into the vicinity of a stationary socket S, the plug P, which is carried with the translating device and attached thereto by leads of suitable length, is insert-- ed within the shell ot 'the socket S, so that the enlarged ends of the plug-terminals G will force the split portions of the hollow terminals H apart, thereby instantly closing the circuit of the translating device. The plug P is pushed continuously` into the socket until the enlarged ends of the plug-terminals engage in' the portions Hof larger diameter of the hollow terminals H,;when the spring portions of the latter tend to contract to grip the plug-terminals and the portions of the plug-terminals tend to expand against the spring portions ot' the hollo'w terminals. A good electrical connection is thus maintained between the mainland branch circuits, and the insulating-plu g P isheld rigidly in its operative positionwith respect to the socket S, as shown in Fig. 2. lit-will be noted that the porcelain walls of the two plugs do not come in -contact and'A that vthe plug P is entirely supported. by the hollow terminals and the plug-contacts.

In the assembled position the insulating-- barrier R ofthe plugP extends-nearly tothe insulating -barrier R l,ot the socket S, and

thus a short circuit of the generator is prevented.` Furthermore, when the plug P is removed, ,when it is desired to break the bran ch circuit leading to a translating device,

the barrier -R isinterposed in `the path between arcs which might extend across the air-gap between the hollow terminals H, and thus also prevents a short circuit of the generator. v Y 1 f vAs shown in- Fig. 1, the plug P is preferably oblong, so that the hollow and the plug.

terminals will be guidedv properlyto coperate with each other., ,lf desired, the positive and' negative terminals may be indicated by v suitable markings on the partsin cases where it would be injurious to the translating device to have current flowing through itin an opposite direction. Y

.What I claim'v as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,` is- 1. Inl a connecting device, the combination with a cup-shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug both of moldable insulating material, said socket and plug being constructed to be received one within the other and having formed therein insulating-barriers of hollow i contacts and plug-contacts supported within said members so as'to projectnfreely therein, said hollowcontacts being constructed to hold the plug-contacts tightly within them, to close the circuit and retain the cup-shaped insulating socket and plug in their-operative positions, said insulating-barriers `being adapted .to coact to prevent a short circuit of the gencrater-leads.

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2. In a connecting device, the combinationi with a cup-shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug of insulating material; said socket and plug being constructed to 4be received one within the other and formed with integral insulating-barriers which divide said plug and IZQ socket into compartments;v of split-spring tube-contacts supported within onel member one in each compartment so as to project freely therein, and plug-contacts supported within the other member one in each compartment to project freely therein so .as to;

engage in aid expand the freely-projecting tube-contact@J whereby the circuit is closed and the cupyshaped insulating socket and plug are held in theiroperative positions.

3. In aconnecting device, the combination with-a cup-shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug'of insulating material, said socket and plug being constructed to be received one Within the other; of tube-contacts supported l within one member to project freely therein,

said tube-contacts being separated from each other by an insulating-barriercarried by said member, and split-spring plug-contacts supported within theV other member to project freely therein, said plug-contacts being separated from each other by an insulating-barrier carried by said other member and adapted to engage inthe tube-contacts and be contracted thereby, to close the circuit and hold the cup-shaped insulating socket and plug inA :contacts being formed with portions of greater diameter intermediate their ends, which portions are constructed to force the split portions in the tube-contacts apart and lodge in the portions of the tube-contacts which have greater diameter, whereby the circuit is closed and the cup-shaped insulating socket and plug are held tightly in their operative positions, said plug and socket having integrallyformed barriers which coac't when said plug `and socket are in their operative positions to prevent the generator-circuit from being short-circuited by arcing. ,e

5. In a connecting de vice,the combination with a cup-'shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug of insulating material, of split-spring tube-contacts formed with portions of greater diameter intermediate their ends, said con'- tacts being supported within one member so as to project freely therein, and split-spring plug-contacts supported within the other member so that they project freely therein,-

said plug-contacts being provided with portions of greater diameter intermediate their ends, which portions are constructed to force the split portions of the tube-contacts apart and lodge in the portions 'of the tube-contacts which have greater diameter, whereby the split-plug portions tendl to expand and the split-tube portions tend to contract, to complete the circuit and hold the cup-shaped insulating socket and Vplug tightly in their operative positions, said socket being formed with perforations in its base and side walls arranged to receive the 'circuit-wireswith which said contacts are connected.

6. In a connecting device, the combination with a cup-shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug of insulating material, of metal terminal blocks secured to theI inside of the socket and plug, to receive the ends of the circuitwires, means accessible from the exterior of said socket or plug for connecting said terminals to or disconnecting them from saidcircuit-Wires, and hollow contacts and plug-con tacts supported by the terminal blocks, i so that they freely project in the insulating socket and plug and are electrically connected with the circuit-wires, said contacts 'being constructed to coperate to close Athe circuit and retain the insulating socket and plug tightly in their operative positions.

7. In aconnectiug device, the combination with a cup-shaped socket and a cup-shaped plug of insulating material, of metal terminal blocks secured to the walls of the socket and plug and constructed to receive the ends of the circuit-wiresscrews extending from v the outside of the socket and plug into the terminal blocks, to secure the latter in position, and bolli-utr contacts and plug-contacts supported by the terminal blocks, said ycontacts being constructed to cop'erate to close I the circuit and retain the insulating socket ano'. plug tightly in their operative positions, said socket being constructed with perforations through its base and side walls and ar ranged to receive the circuit-wires which lead to the terminal plugs.

8. In a connectingdevice, the combination with a cupshaped socket constructed of in-.

sulating material with aiiangedl base which has perforations in the flanges for the reception of attaching-screws, of a cup-shaped plug of insulatingmaterial, said members being constructed' to be received one within the other; and coperating hollow and plug contacts-supported within the socket and plug, so that they project freely therein, said socket being formed with perforations` through its base and side walls, which communicate with the hollow interior and are-arrangedto receive the circuit-wires which lead to the contacts..

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9. In a connecting device, the combination with a hollow cup-shaped socket and a hollow cup-shaped plug of insulating material, said members being constructed to be received one within the other; of hollow termin'als and plugterminals supported within said members so as to project freely therein, the hollow terminals being constructed to hold the plug pertions tightly Within them, to close the circuit and an insulating-barrier separating'saidter minals,said plu gand socket beingconstructed to bereceived one within the other, the telfloo miuais of said plug being adapted to Contact In-Witness whereof I have hereunto ser;l ki y with the terminals of said. socket and the inhand this 29th day of April, 1901; suiating-bax'riers of said plug and socket be- 1 ing adapted 13o coaet when said piug and GEORGE W4'- CRAVLNS" socket are in theirv operative positions to form Vtnesses:

means for preventing the generatobcireuib BENJAMIN B. HULL,

' v from being shorb-creuited by aroing. CHARLES STEINER. 

